Orienting button-attaching machine



Dec. 30, 1941.

F. H. PETERSON I .ORIENTING BUTTQN-ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet]; v

Rededck 716287828 021 Dec. 30, 19 41.

F. H. PETERSON 2,267,872

ORIEN'IING BUTTON-ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 30, 1941. F. H.PETERSON 6 ORIENTING BUTTQN'ATTACHING MACHINE Filed June 23, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 he ri'ck JLBeiaQon 3% 6/ Patented, Dec; '30,

MACHIN Frederick H. Peterson, Watertown, Conn., assignor to The Patent Button Company, Waterbury,

Conn, a corporation of Connecticut 1 Claim.

I My invention relates to newand useful' im-. movements in orientingmechanism for. buttonattaching machines; and-is a continuation in part of" an application filed. by me on December 2. 1938, Serial. Number 245:,2'78,.for orienting button-attaching machine.

In the application aforementioned, the hopper, from which. the oriented buttons pass down to the attaching station; was rotated in a step-bystepmovement in certain synchronism with the action of the attachingplunger, and the buttons. -.as-they:were carriedup the side of the rotating hopper, wouldipass, when they properly aligned themselves, through certain grooves in the hopper and theninto the chute, where they traveled in their certain rotatedposition to the attaching station.

Due to the fact that the buttons canonly pass from the-hopper in one oriented position, it happened at timesthat when the machine was operatednear-"its maximum speed, a button might fail to-be at. the attachingstatiomwhen the attaching plunger descended.

The-present invention, therefore, contemplates the use of the same. form of hopper with its Application-June 23, 1939, Serial No. 280,859

rotated, which shaft has incorporated therewith an over-running clutch, so that when the machine is first started, the operator may, by hand, rotate the hopper several turns or spin the same even when the machine is running. This may be done without in any way aiiecting the mechanical rotation of the hopper.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a button-attaching machine with a continuously rotated hopper and to arrange an auxiliary power means directly in back of the hopper and carried by the base plate thereof so that the machine does not occupy any more space than it did when operated in a step-by-step manner.

Still another object of the invention is. to dispense with the mechanism for providing an inmeans fororienting the button as it'passes from the hopper, but has, to dowith an improved mechanism whereby the hopper may be continuousiy rotated by its own motor, so'that the chute will alwaysbe full of button heads to thus in- 4 sure that-whenever the plunger at the attaching,

station is operated, a buttonwill be present.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hopper driven. by its own motor, which motor,

in turn, if so desired, ratherthan being continuously energized, may be controlled by various .-electrical control systems, which would permit therotation, of the hopper during a button-attaching operation and for four or five seconds thereafter, which would also insure a ready supply of buttons in. the chute.

However, the control system is not shown and forms no part of the present invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide an orienting mechanism wherein the hopper is to becontinuously rotated as long as the machine isrunning. so that the feeding of the buttermittent movement to the hopper and to substitute means for a continuous rotative movement of the hopper, and further provide means so that if any buttons are liberated beyond their normal place of escape, they will not jam or be permitted to pass into the chute but, on the other hand, will be carried back to the hopper to be again oriented.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain new and novel features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully explained and pointed out in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a button-attaching machine showing the rotative hopper and a fragmentary upper portion of the button chute;

Fig. .2 is a rear view of the same showing the manner of mounting the motor and its gear train for continuously driving the hopper;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of the hopper and showing the motor for driving the hopper;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the manner 01' mounting the hopper and its over-running clutch;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing a button about to pass from the hopper:

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and showing a button within the raceway of the hopper; P

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view-of an orientable button;

Fig. is a top plan view of the button showing the insignia bearing a definite relation to the flats of the hub; and

Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the button showing one flat and a step or aligning wall for the 'button.

Referring now to the drawings, and for the moment to Fig. 1, there is shown the hopper and a fragmentary part of the feed chute of a buttonattaching machine of the type set forth in the patent granted to me on March 14, 1933, and.

.the machine capable of rotating the hopper in a continuous movement rather than in a step-bystep movement; (2) to provide a different form of main supporting and actuating shaft for the hopper, on which is provided an over-runnin clutch; (3) to provide a motor with a gear train for cooperating with the supporting and actuating shaft above-mentioned; (4) to provide an enlarged raceway adjacent the hopper for the buttons that happen to be carried up the raceway instead of immediately going down the raceway to the feed chute on their way to the attaching station, which enlarged raceway preisacon baseplate, as shown in Fig. 1, is widened, as'at 8 by discontinuing the overhanging wall 46, so that if any buttons, in passing from the hopper, as will be later mentioned, contact with the revolving sideof the hopper and are carried by friction above a horizontal line drawn through the axis of the cup, they will not become jammed but will pass into the widened portion 6 and in time be carried by friction to the top of the hopper, as at 'l, and then drop from this widened portion of the chute into the pocket 8 formed in the base plate and fall into the hopper to be again revolved and oriented.

As will be understood from the parental case. the raceway I. is open on its inner side and the wall of thehopper, in reality, forms the inside vents the buttons from having their hubs jammed between the revolving hopper and the base plate of the hopper; (5) to provide means for preventing the buttons that are carried into the enlarged raceway and which are thus no longer in an oriented position, from i'eturning to the feed chute before being again oriented. f

In Fig. 1, there will be seen a fragmentary portion I of an arm, to which is secured the extending portion 2 of the circular base plate 3,.

on which is mounted the cup or hopper l for holding the buttons that are to be oriented and then attached to the work garments, overalls, or other articles of a similar nature. The base plate 3, in reality, forms the bottom of the cup, and it is between this base plate and the under edge of the hopper (through grooves) that the buttons pass when in their properly oriented position into the raceway 5 with its overhanging wall 46, which raceway is concentric to the cup 4 for a portion of its length, and registers at its one end with the chute 5', which extends tangentially to the cup and then down to the attaching station.

Although it is not shown, it will be understood that this chute extends down to cup-shaped receiving jaws over the attaching station, the button being inverted as it passes down the chute to the cup-shaped receiving jaws, where it is then forced onto a tack by a plunger, which is the usual operation and illustrated in the companion application.

wall of the raceway. Also, the distance between the stationary wall and side wall of the hopper is slightly less than the major diameter of the hub of the button but slightly greater than the width measured on the minor axis of the hub, that is, across the flats. Therefore, as the button passes out of its groove, it is turned .in a clockwise direction, dueto the friction oi!v the button on the bottom plate and against the outer wall 48 of the raceway and the movement of the rotating hopper, until the flats are parallel with the-side wall 46 of the raceway.

The rotation of the hopper, as heretofore mentioned, acting on thebuttons not only tends to partially rotate them but tends to elevate them. Then, with a multiplicity of buttons in the raceway, additional buttons coming in, and

other buttons being turned, they may havea tendency to Jam when reaching apointabove the horizontal =lin'e, as heretofore mentioned. However, by forming the widenedportion so that these buttons may be fully revolved and carried back to the hopper, this tendency of Jamming is overcome. i I

A stop or gate 9 is provided, which consists of the plate lll, secured to the upper edge ofthe base plate and at a point in a horizontal line drawn through the axis of the cupand has .the

downwardly extending'coil spring ll thatwpro- II. This shaft I3 is provided with "a collar,

The upper end of the raceway 5 formed in the ,iectsinto the raceway 5 (Fig. 4) thus preventing any buttons trapped inthe widened portion 8 from passing down into the chute 5'. This is a necessary detent, as any buttons in the widened portion 6 are no longer in their oriented position.

Referring now for the moment to Figs. 3 and 4, and particularly to the supporting and actuating shaft for the hopper or cup 4, it will be seen that the base plate 3 is provided with an enlarged hub If, in which is rotatably mounted the shaft that rests on the face of the base plate 3, while about the shaft above thecollar llmay be seen the sleeve I5. Threadedinwthe sleeve near. the lower end thereof may :be seen "a cross pin- 16,

which is to engage the walls of a-slot ll formed in the lower end of per or cup l. 1

Referring for the moment to the hopper or cup, it will be seen that from the hub I! extend the spider arms I! to the inner side walls of the hopper cylinder, the inner side walls being ribbed vertically, as at 20, so thatas the hopper is revolved, the-buttons will be continuously tumbled and they will eventually' be in a position to pass through the grooves 2| formed in the lower edge of the circular wall of the hopper, as will the hollow hub 18 of the hopbe shortly mentioned.

At the upper end of the shaft l3, there are the threads 22, about which is threaded the cap 23, while extending between-the .under surface of the capand the top of the sleeve I is a spring 24, which bears against the steel ,washer l5, which latter is keyed or locked-to the upper end of the shaft". Beneath the steel washer |5f is fitted the fiberaor composition washer, which bears against the upper end of the sleeve |5. Thus, the sleeve I5 is frictionally held on the shaft l3 and between the washer l5" and the lower collar l4.

The sleeve .l5 is provided with a circumferential groove 25, so that a latch member 26 on the hopper '(Fig. 1) may be snapped into and out of this groove, thus locking the hopper on the sleeve until the latch 25 is operated, after which the hopper 4 may be removed from. its shaft l3. The cross pin l5 (which, as before mentioned, is threaded in the sleeve)- fitting within the slot 11 in the bottom of the hopper hub locks the hopper with relation to the shaft I3, so that any rotative. movement imparted to the shaft will be transmitted to the hopper. k

The lower end of the shaft I3 is threaded, as at 21, on a reduced diameter. and there is a further reduction in diameter, as at 28, and finally the threads 29 at the extreme end of the shaft.

Locked on the threads 21 is what I term the cam plate 30 of the over-running clutch. which may be seen in detail in Fig. 6. The cam plate 30 is grooved diametrically to form a channel having the opposite vertical'walls 32. This channel is also milled opposite the respective vertical walls 32 to form the inclined cam surfaces 3|, the walls 32, of course, being the active or driving faces of the cam.

Loosely mounted on the reduced portion 23 of the lower end of the shaft I3 is the driving member 33 of the clutch with its external gear teeth 34 and itstwo spring-pressed driving pins 35, which pins normally extend beyond the upper surface of the driving member 33 to engage the vertical walls 32 of the cams 3|. There is a cover plate 36 extending over the springs of .the spring: pressed pins, which cover plate is held in position by the two screws 31. Beyond this (Fig. 4) is the washer 38, which is held in place by the nut 39 on the threaded end 29 of the shaft l3.

Thus, a rotation of the drive plate 33, through the driving pins 35 engaging the vertical walls 32 of the cam groove, will rotate the shaft l3 to, in turn, through the pin l3, rotate the hopper 4.

Also, the hopper may be rotated by hand, that is, over-run' the clutch, as the cam surfaces 3| will depress the drive pins within their sockets and thus permit the plate 30 to turn relative to theplns35. y I

This over-running ,clutch, therefore, permits the hopper to be given a ,few preliminary turns before the machine is started to fill up the feed chute 5' with oriented buttons, and also permits the operator at'any time, even through the motor, shortly to be mentioned, is running; to give a few additional twists'to the hopper if he notices that the feed chute for any reason is getting low in its supply of buttons.

Now, to drive the hopper in a continuous mantem may be so arranged that it will start the motor when the treadle (not shown) is depressed to attach a button, and this control system will keep the motor energized for a predetermined length of time, say from two to six seconds, after the treadle is released, which will also assure a full supply of buttons in the chute. However, as above-mentioned, the electrical control system or switches are not shown, as they do not per se form any part of the present invention.

In Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive, I have shown the details of the type of button to be oriented and also fragmentarily shown a section of the lower edge of the cup or hopper 4 and the raceway 5 to illustrate how the buttons with the particularly shaped hubs may pass from the hopper to the raceway and down the feed chute 5' to the attaching station.

Referring now for the moment to Fig. '1, there is shown a fragmentary section taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1, illustrating the grooves 2|, which have the step 44 on their one side, so that the button 45 and its hub, when in one rotated position only, may pass through a groove 2| and out, into the raceway 5. The circular base plate 3, it might be mentioned here, has the upstanding----peripheral wall 3', which normally holds the buttons from passing from the hopper through the grooves until the buttons are opposite the rac'eway .i.

In Fig. 8, the button 45 is shown as having passed through the groove 2| in its oriented position into the raceway 5 and is now in position to pass down the chute 5' in only one position. It will be understood that the raceway 5 at its lower end and the chute 5 have the overhanging opposite walls 46 contacting with the flats of the hub that prevent the button from turning or revolving as it passes down the raceway and into the chute to its attaching station.

The button 45 forms the subject-matter of separate applications, to wit, one filed by Fredner, there may be seen in Fig. 2 the motor 40,

which is held to the rear of the hopper plate by the cap screws 4|. This motor is provided with a reduction gearing with its driving pinion 42,

erick H. Peterson and Rollin R. Clarke on January 3, 1939, Serial Number 249,135, now Patent Number 2,170,091, granted August 22, 1939, for Tack buttons, and one flied by Frederick H. Peterson and Rollin R. Clarke on May 4, 1939, Serial Number 271,766, now Patent Number 2,170,092, granted August 22,. 1939, for Tack buttons. However, it might be mentioned briefly that the hub has two flats 41 and 48 with the additional step or aligning wall 49 on the end of the hub, so that the button may only pass through the groove 2| when in one position. The face of the button-will be provided with insignia 50 bearing a definite relation to these" angle of the flats is slightly different from that shown in the two patents above-mentioned.

It is to be remembered that each button passes from the hopper and down the chute-with the hub extending upwardly, but the chute is provided with a twist, so that on reaching the attaching station, the face will be 'up and the hub will extend downwardly. v

As is well understood, during the attaching operation, the tack will be held beneath the cloth with the point up. and the button head will be forced downwardly by the plunger (not shown) to thus force the tack through the cloth and up into the button head, where it will be cloth.

The button may be of the solid type or may' be of the shell type, just so it is provided with these two flats and aligning wall bearing a definite relation to the insignia, so that it may only pass out in one position to the raceway I.

As heretofore mentioned, if any buttons should pass through the grooves 2| above the stop 9, they may float or be revolved within the widened portion 6 of the raceway, thus preventing any jamming of the buttons, which might happen if the raceway were not widened. These buttons that once reach the widened portion 6, however, must not be permitted to pass down through the chute 5', because they are no longer in an oriented position. The stop 9 prevents this and they will either remain in thewidened portion 6 or be finally carried up the raceway. until they pass into the pocket 8 and down again into the hopper to be tumbled and revolved until once more they are oriented and pass into the raceway 5 and chute 5'.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a feeding and orienting means for the buttons, which will always insure a sufficient supply of buttons for the machine, so that there is no danger of the plunger descending to mutilate the tack in the clotch without having its cooperating button head.

Furthermore, the machine is so arranged that the buttons are not likely to Jam in the raceway 5 and if they once get out of their oriented position, they are effectively held from entering the chute 5 until they again pass through the radial grooves 2| in the hopper.

Finally, the hopper may be turned by hand either when starting the machine or at any time the hopper is being driven by the motor, thus further assuring a bountiful supply of button heads for the attaching operation.

- Many slight changes are possible in the con- T struction hereinb'efore set forthwithout depart ing from the spirit and scope or the'invention.

Having thus described my. invention, what I;

claim as newand desire to; secure by Letters Patent is: r" v f A hopper and'chute unit. for a button-attaching machine including 'a base plate having an.

extension portion which latter is adapted to besecured to a supportingarm ofJaibutton-attaching machine, a rotatable hopper mounted ;.on the driving the same, the said base plate being; also provided with a concentric wall adjacent apart;

of the periphery of the hopper: and forming a raceway forv the buttons liberated fromthe hop--- per and having an overhanging-portionadapted to contact with flats formedon: the hubs oi the buttons to prevent them from. rotating about their central axes, the overhanging-portion of, the wall of said raceway extending to a'point slightly above a horizontal line drawn through the central axis ofv the hopper, the remainingportion of the raceway extending to a point said portion where they may rotateabout their vertical axes, and the stop means preventing buttons which have passed into said portion from dropping down again into the said raceway.

FREDERICK H. PETERSON. 

